Trey Anastasio Reunites With Billy Strings & Jovi Crusen In Grand Rapids

Trey Anastasio brought his acoustic tour with Jeff Tanski to Grand Rapids, Michigan last night, where he brought out a few friends to share the stage. The Phish guitarist was joined by bluegrass star Billy Strings for the back half of the show and welcomed youngster Jovi Crusen to sing the same vocals on “Bug” she sang at the same venue four years earlier.

The special concert at Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater began with Trey Anastasio and Jeff Tanski working through Phish classics “Taste,” “Waste” and “Stash.” Anastasio then went solo for “Bathtub Gin,” “Sample In A Jar” and “Chalk Dust Torture” before he acknowledged a sign in the crowd with a song request by bringing back Tanski for “Esther.”

After performing “Rift,” “Divided Sky,” “Joy,” “Simeon” and “Petrichor” with Tanski, Trey Anastasio sent the crowd into hysterics when he introduced his “very good friend” Billy Strings. The Michigan native walked out on crutches as he continues to recover from a broken leg he suffered during an April concert in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trey and Billy started their collaboration with “Back On The Train,” a Phish tune that has long been part of Strings’ live repertoire. The hometown hero then guided Anastasio through a beautiful rendition of his song “Gild The Lily.”

From there, Tanski reemerged to accompany Strings and Anastasio on “Water In The Sky” and left the pair to play a cover of Hot Rize’s “Nellie Kane,” Phish oldie “Possum” and Billy’s “Love And Regret.” The main set ended with extended versions of “Wolfman’s Brother” and “What’s Going Through Your Mind” featuring Anastasio, Strings and Tanski.

When Trey Anastasio played a solo acoustic show at Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater on June 20, 2022, he took note of a seven-year-old fan in the audience holding a sign that read “Can I Sing Bug With You?” Anastasio brought the youngster, Jovi Crusen, out for a heartwarming performance of the Phish song.

Last night, Jovi reprised the memorable moment nearly four years to the day later at the same venue to open the encore. Crusen was holding the same sign with “Bug Reprise?” written on the back. Billy Strings and Jeff Tanski were also on stage for a “Bug” performance featuring Jovi singing the choruses. Strings stuck around for the “First Tube” with Tanski that closed the concert.

Watch fan-shot video of each and every song Trey Anastasio and Billy Strings played together, including the “Bug” with Jovi Crusen, below:

Setlist (via Melt_or_Mule on Phish.net)

Set: Taste, Waste, Stash, Lost In The Pack#, Bathtub Gin# > Sample In A Jar#, Chalk Dust Torture#, Esther, Rift, Divided Sky, Joy, Simeon, Petrichor, Back On The Train^, Gild The Lily^, Water In The Sky^^, Nellie Kane^, Possum^, Love & Regret^, Wolfman’s Brother^^, What’s Going Through Your Mind^^

Encore: Bug^^^, First Tube^^

• # – Trey Anastasio solo
• ^ – Trey Anastasio & Billy Strings
• ^^ – Trey Anastasio, Billy Strings & Jeff Tanski
• ^^^ – Jovi Crusen with Trey Anastasio, Billy Strings & Jeff Tanski